Improved apparatus for gathering quicksilver



withF the'rockin a ineY spray, and this tity of quicksilver has hitherto been considl bring it to such a state that it UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

M. n. ponemos NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPRVED APPARATUS FOR GATHERING QUICKSILVER..

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 46.645, dated March 7, 1865.

- Tonfall whorn, it may concern.'

Be-it known.that I, M B. DODGF.,'of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Gathering Quicksilver; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents va longitudinal vertical section of. this invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, the line' a.' 'Fig'. 1, indicating the plane of section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. l

.The waterrunning oli` from amalgamators contains alarge quantity of quicksilver mixed quanered a mere waste. The object of this present invention is to collect this qnicksilver and can be used againand again. i

The invention consists in a vat provided with an `amalgamated bottom and with a series ofslats which do not extend close down to the bottom o'f the vat, in combination with or without an agitator, in such a manner that the water let into the vat at'oneside has to pasa throughall the spaces left between the Hslats and bottom before'ilis 'allowed to discharge through apertures in the opposite side of said vat, andduring its passage under the slats the quicksilver is .compelled to come in 'contact with the amalgamated surface of' the bottom, and thereby it is caused -to gather, so that it can be readily scooped outand used again and -again in the amalgamating pro. cess or for other purposes. By the use'of an agitator moving between the slats and by imparting to the vat a reciprocating motion the process of gathering the quicksilver canbe materially facilitated.

A'represents a vat-"made of wood or anyothcr suitable material, and provided .with a bottom, B, of copper or other metal which can be amalgamated. Said vat is supported by a frame, O, and it is provided with a series of slats, D, which are inserted in a longitudinal or in any other desirable direction, and which are arranged in such a manner that they can be readily removed whenever it may be desirable. Said slats do not extend clear .down to the bottom of the vat, leaving narrow channels a, as clearly shown in the drawings, and the spaces between the slats are occupied by the agitator E, which consists of a series of diamond-shaped pins, of wood or any other suitable material, inserted iu longitudi- -nal' bars b, which are secured to cross-bars' c, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Said cross-bars extend .beyond the sides of the vat, and they rest upon slides d, which ,f are supported by guide-rods e. I do not wish to confine myself to this particular construction of the agitator, for it is obvious that the same can be changed in -many dif- .ferent ways without materially altering the result.

F is a spout or funnel, through which the water, rock, and quicksilvcr are introduced into the vat A; This spout is inserted into one o f the longitudinal bars b of the agitator, close to one side of the vat, and. in the opposite side of said vat-are a series of apertures,

through which the water and rock discharge. While passing through the several channels a under the slats the quicksilver is brought in close contact'with the amalgamated surface of the bottom B, and thereby it is caused to gather, so that it can be readily scoopednp after the water has run off.v

The process is facilitated by imparting to the vat and to th'e agitator a reciprocating motion in opposite directions, which is e'ccted by means of a revolving shaft, g, with two 'or more cranks or eccentrics placed in opposite directions. One or more of these eccentrics connect by a rod or rods, h, with the vat, and one or. more by a rod or rods, i, with the agitator. These connecting-rods are so arranged that they can be readily unhookcd whenever it is desired to. stop the motion of either the vat or the agitator or of both. The vat moves I between gnidestripsj, rising from the sides of the frame C.

Bylhe action of this machine' all the quicksilver, or nearly so, contained in the water running o from amalgamators can be gathered and saved, and little hand. labor is required n its operations, so that a considerg' em'tng substantialyas and for the purpose a-ble prot arises from its use. I set forth. A

I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 2. Imparting to the vat A and to the agitaters Patenttor E a1 `reciprocating motion in opposite d- 1. The slats D, inserted into the vat A so l rectons, als and for the purpose specified.

as to have channels a between their lower M. B. DODGE.

edges and the bottom of the vat, in combina- Witnesses:

tion with an amaigamated bottom B, and with M. M. LIVINGSTON,

or without an agitator, E, constructed and op- WM. F. MCNAMARA. 

